Francis Tuttle’s culinary students provide exceptional dining at District 21

Before Francis Tuttle culinary students graduate from the year-long program and seek a professional role in the industry, they are provided the opportunity to get real-world experience at the on-campus District 21 restaurant.

The restaurant is located at the Francis Tuttle Rockwell Campus in Oklahoma City and provides a great avenue for students to perfect their skills and build confidence, while serving gourmet food to the public.

At the end of each semester, the restaurant closes for a special tasting event. Students invite their friends and family to enjoy an impressive array of food that they’ve worked on preparing for about a week. The event is free and open to the public, and the bites change each semester. Several weeks in advance of the evening, students work together to plan the food.

At the most recent event in December, attendees tasted items like lobster ravioli, prime rib, Mexican-inspired pulled pork, pasta topped with salmon, roasted veggie-filled pita, fresh baked bagels and croissants, a variety of about 12 different pies, and more. Needless to say, there was not an empty belly that exited the event.

One of the students, Yasmine Weatherborne, made French omelets. She cooked them fresh in front of each attendee, filling them with an array of vegetables, meats, and cheeses, at the individual’s request.

Weatherborne moved to Oklahoma City from Los Angeles for Francis Tuttle’s Culinary program. “I love it here. It’s so calm,” she said. “I decided to do the program because I want to open my own bakery someday. I needed a change from life in Los Angeles, and Francis Tuttle was a perfect fit.”

Many of the students have similar stories: a passion for food and a mission to make it part of their career.

The end-of-semester event is special because it gives students the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned over the past 18 weeks of schooling. Unlike the more traditional dining experience on any given day at the restaurant, this evening provides students an opportunity to experience what it’s like catering a large event.

If you have an opportunity to attend the end of the semester showcase, go. But if not, you’ll definitely want to make time to visit the District 21 restaurant on a Thursday or Friday evening.

Every few weeks, the District 21 menu changes, giving the Francis Tuttle student chefs a broader set of skills to lean on in their future career. Menus range greatly, offering cuisine inspired by French, Classic Steakhouse, Farm to Table, Gastro Pub, Italian, Mexican, Northern Asian, Southern cooking, and more. Chefs Jason Marsh and Bill Leib work with the students on a regular basis to redesign the menus, encouraging them to take risks as they learn about new dishes.

“My favorite thing about the program is the students,” said Marsh. “Our enrollment is growing. Though our max is 16 students per class, we’ve had more interest than we can support at full capacity.”

Diners who visit District 21 choose from a selection of starters, main course items, and dessert during the meal. Sometimes, the menu offers additional items outside of the choices for the three main courses. At the end of last year, the menu offered a choice of Cajun Ribeye, Pork Chili Verde, Roasted Vegetable Manicotti, Crispy Duck Confit, and Horseradish Crusted Halibut for the mains. Prices range from $16-$26, making it a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy gourmet cuisine at a reasonable price point.

“The students taste everything they make. It’s the only way for them to know how to make a dish correctly. When they know what tastes right, they can replicate it,” said Marsh.

The new menu has yet to be announced for January and February, but it’s bound to be good. The restaurant is closed until mid-January, but you can ensure you and your partner (or crew) can get in and enjoy the cuisine by calling ahead and leaving a message at 405.717.7700 or by emailing [email protected]. Reservations are required for restaurant bookings.

In addition to serving individuals and private dining groups, District 21 offers space for corporate events, luncheons, and other private parties. You can learn more about these options and get in touch here.